Why Accept Membership Welcome to this information session about Phi Theta Kappa. First – we want to congratulate you on your superior academic achievements which have awarded you an invitation to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. PTK believes in you and in your potential. We are dedicated to empowering you to take control of your destiny with the resources and support Phi Theta Kappa offers to its members.

The mission of Phi Theta Kappa is to Our Mission The mission of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. Our primary mission is to recognize your academic achievements, but that’s just the beginning. Our mission for the past 100 years has been to serve and support college students to ensure their future success.

Who is Phi Theta Kappa? Phi Theta Kappans represent a diverse group of students from all walks of life. As you’ll see in this snapshot, 68 percent of our members go on to complete a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. You’ll also see that Phi Theta Kappans have a 91 percent completion or transfer rate. This means that 91 percent of our members either graduate from their current college or transfer to a four-year university.   The average GPA of a PTK member is 3.6. And 73 percent of our members use resources like PTK Connect, an online tool specifically designed to help college students plan their career pathways whether that includes transferring to a four-year school or entering the job market after their two-year college credential.   Finally, Phi Theta Kappa has students from all majors -- from business to career technical, healthcare, STEM and liberal arts.

Where is Phi Theta Kappa? Now that you know a little bit about who we are, let’s cover where Phi Theta Kappa is. We are an international honor society, and we have approximately 1,300 chapters that span 50 states and 9 nations. You’ll see here that Phi Theta Kappa chapters belong to four divisions – each division houses chapters in that specific geographic area.

Common Reasons for Not Accepting Membership “I have little/no time.” “I’m a tech student so I’m not transferring.” “I am about to transfer.” “I’ve never heard of PTK.” “I cannot afford it.” Often, we hear from prospective members who will provide one or more of these common reasons for not accepting membership in PTK. It’s important to debunk some of the myths surrounding membership. To those prospective members who say they have little or no time to devote to PTK, the answer is simple. There are NO time or involvement stipulations to become or maintain your membership. We understand the reality of work, school, and family obligations, which is why your time investment in Phi Theta Kappa is entirely at your discretion. Of course, you have the opportunity to maximize the benefits of membership by becoming engaged in PTK programs and events.   For those who are in career/technical programs who think PTK will not be beneficial, we have membership benefits that provide you with workplace and leadership skills training that can help you be more competitive in your career. If you are about to transfer, don’t risk losing scholarship money that may be available at your four-year college to PTK members. In addition - Phi Theta Kappa comprises a network of more than 3 million members and alumni – our reach is incredible. Simply listing PTK membership on your resume or job application is impressive. Finally, we know some prospective members struggle with the membership fee. Please note this is a one-time, lifetime membership fee. PTK is working hard to provide more and more membership fee scholarships to those in need. Be sure to check with your advisor to determine if there are local scholarships or funding set aside to help cover membership. (Share if your chapter/college has a membership fee assistance program that will help students with this cost. PTK Headquarters offers a membership fee waiver called the Golden Opportunity Scholarship that covers the international membership fee portion of the of the membership fee. Students in financial need may be nominated by their local chapter advisor for this waiver.)

Phi Theta Kappa Structure INTERNATIONAL LEVEL International Officers | Phi Theta Kappa Staff Board of Directors REGIONAL LEVEL Regional Coordinator | Regional Officers Regional Advisory Board Let’s move on to the structure of Phi Theta Kappa. We have three levels that offer leadership opportunities to active members. At the international level, we have 5 International Officers who serve a one-year term. Each of PTK’s 29 regions has student Regional Officers.   Chapter officers help lead the chapter at the local level. Check with your chapter advisor for more details. Your Phi Theta Kappa membership continues as an alum as soon as you graduate or transfer from your current college. LOCAL LEVEL Chapter Advisors | Chapter Officers Chapter Members | Alumni 2017 – 18 International Officer Team

PTK Helps You Achieve More! The Edge PTK Connect Chapter Projects Networking & Service Events Officer and other leadership positions How much you get involved in PTK benefits & activities is always completely up to you. We’re proud of the many benefits we offer members as a way to strengthen their personal & career development. Complete one or more of our online courses called the Edge. You’ll find courses focused on soft skills, getting a job, and transferring to a four-year school. Practice your leadership skills by getting involved in your chapter’s projects.

Additional Benefits Scholarships Access to more than $90 Million in scholarships, including $37 Million in transfer scholarships from 750 four-year schools Regional and International Events PTK International Convention Honors Institute Regional Conferences Officer Training Letters of Recommendation Corporate Partners Special Offers Here, you’ll see additional benefits of membership. We offer, for instance, ample scholarship opportunities for PTK members. As a Phi Theta Kappan, you’ll have access to more than $90 million in scholarships. That number includes $37 million in scholarships from more than 750 four-year schools that offer transfer scholarships exclusively to PTK members.   As a member, you’ll, also, have access to PTK regional and international events. Each of our 29 regions hosts regional conferences throughout the year, where members can learn about leadership, network with members from nearby chapters, and learn how to implement Phi Theta Kappa chapter programs. Members may also participate in PTK international events such as our annual convention, called PTK Catalyst, and our Honors Institute, which is an intense, one-week conference where members convene at a four-year campus and engage in small group discussions, leadership skills development, and critical thinking focused on our Honors Study Topic. Additionally, Phi Theta Kappa has strategic corporate partnerships that provide discounts on services for our members while they are in college and beyond. In the same vein, we provide letters of recommendation for our members. If you have a potential employer or four-year university admissions rep who has requested a letter of recommendation, you can easily request this letter from PTK HQ.

Accept Your Membership www.ptk.org/join Membership Services help@ptk.org ptk.org/contact (800) 946-9995 Your chapter leaders will provide instructions on how students accept the membership invitation. If you received an emailed invitation with a passcode, you may accept membership online. We also welcome any questions you may have at this time.

Celebrating New Members Induction Ceremony Date Time Location Guests For those who accept membership, we hope you’ll participate in your chapter’s next induction ceremony. Here are the details: The Induction Ceremony publicly recognizes the academic achievement of members. Our Induction Ceremony will be Date: ____________________ Time: ____________________ Location: _________________ Members may invite family and friends to the Induction Ceremony to join in this special celebration.

Thank You ptk.org We appreciate your time and investment in learning more about Phi Theta Kappa membership. Since 1918, PTK has been recognizing and empowering high-achieving college students just like you. This is your time, your opportunity to be recognized for what you have accomplished. We hope that you will accept the invitation to join the ranks of “Phi Theta Kappa Scholars.”